Political

Afghanistan hunger hits record: 15.9 million face acute food insecurity, 19.2 million by winter

By /

Afghanistan hunger and acute malnutrition have reached the highest levels ever recorded, with 15.9 million people facing acute food insecurity, according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released on 15 October 2026. UN agencies say conditions will get worse over the coming winter.

Afghanistan hunger: Two children in Afghanistan eat nutritional biscuits
Two children in Afghanistan eat nutritional biscuits Photo: © WFP via UN News (editorial use with credit).

What the IPC report on acute food insecurity found

The IPC is a global system that ranks food insecurity in five phases. It found that more than 32 per cent of Afghans are in phase three, the crisis level, or worse. That includes 3.4 million people in phase four, the emergency level that comes before famine. The report blamed disease outbreaks, poor water and sanitation, and a sharp drop in access to nutrition services. ‘Although improved rainfall and better agricultural production have supported food availability, declining humanitarian assistance is reducing households’ ability to cope,’ it said. The World Food Programme (WFP) published the same figures.

Key Facts

  • People in acute food insecurity: 15.9 million (record)
  • In emergency phase four: 3.4 million
  • Projected Nov-Apr: 19.2 million, incl. 5 million in emergency
  • Children under five needing treatment in 2027: 4.04 million
  • Report released: 15 Oct 2026

“We still have a window to act, but it is closing fast.”

— John Aylieff, WFP country director in Afghanistan

Afghanistan hunger this winter and child malnutrition

From November to April, the winter lean season, nearly 19.2 million people are projected to be in phase three or above, including 5 million in emergency conditions. Acute malnutrition is set to grow, with 4.04 million children under five projected to need treatment between January and December 2027. WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called for urgent funding for food aid, emergency farm support and malnutrition treatment. ‘We still have a window to act, but it is closing fast,’ said WFP country director John Aylieff. FAO’s Richard Trenchard said families need dependable incomes to withstand the next shock.

Taliban restrictions and rights violations

On the same day, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported a continued erosion of basic rights between July and September, with women and girls bearing the brunt of restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities. Girls are still barred from school beyond grade six. UNAMA documented more than 50 hijab-related cases against women, mostly in Herat and Kabul, and at least 443 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention by virtue and vice inspectors. It recorded public lashings of 22 men and six women. A new police law published in August bans all demonstrations, UNAMA said. In one case a 13-year-old girl was held overnight, and women were blocked from health clinics and markets without a male guardian. UNAMA also said that since October 2025, 512 civilians have been killed and 1,236 injured in cross-border violence, including children killed in Pakistani airstrikes on homes in Kunar and Helmand. All the figures in this story come from the IPC report, WFP and UNAMA, as published by UN News.

Why It Matters: Hunger is rising even after a better harvest because aid is shrinking, which means funding decisions in the next few weeks will decide how families get through winter.

Also on TrendDesh: Yemen fighting cuts off food aid to 800,000 people as WFP warns of catastrophe in Taiz · Sudan famine risk grows in Darfur and Kordofan as drought deepens war crisis

Source: UN News · World Food Programme · IPC snapshot via ReliefWeb

Share

Today’s News 16 Oct 2026 · 21 stories

  1. Rajnath Singh warns of white-collar terrorism and lone-wolf attacks at Defence Conclave1Rajnath Singh warns of white-collar terrorism and lone-wolf attacks at Defence ConclaveOct 16, 2026
  2. Asian Games 2026 review: Mandaviya tells federations India needs ’10 more Mirabai Chanus’2Asian Games 2026 review: Mandaviya tells federations India needs ’10 more Mirabai Chanus’Oct 16, 2026
  3. 57th GST Council reforms: CBIC chief explains end of GST arrests and faster refunds in Hyderabad357th GST Council reforms: CBIC chief explains end of GST arrests and faster refunds in HyderabadOct 16, 2026
  4. 24 Speed Post reaches Ahmedabad: next-day document delivery to Mumbai or a full refund424 Speed Post reaches Ahmedabad: next-day document delivery to Mumbai or a full refundOct 16, 2026
  5. Indian Maritime University convocation: 1,993 graduate in Chennai, including 1,605 seafarers5Indian Maritime University convocation: 1,993 graduate in Chennai, including 1,605 seafarersOct 16, 2026
  6. Chennai Port marks 145th Port Day after record 57.90 million tonnes of cargo in 2025-266Chennai Port marks 145th Port Day after record 57.90 million tonnes of cargo in 2025-26Oct 16, 2026
  7. Sikkim Ayurveda institute: CM Tamang lays stone for 50-acre wellness centre at Lungchok7Sikkim Ayurveda institute: CM Tamang lays stone for 50-acre wellness centre at LungchokOct 16, 2026
  8. Bhajanlal Sharma meets PM Modi in Delhi, then takes water and power projects to Patil and Joshi8Bhajanlal Sharma meets PM Modi in Delhi, then takes water and power projects to Patil and JoshiOct 16, 2026
  9. Jaswant Pashu Mela opens in Bharatpur: 107th edition of the 1920 fair already earns over Rs 1.17 crore9Jaswant Pashu Mela opens in Bharatpur: 107th edition of the 1920 fair already earns over Rs 1.17 croreOct 16, 2026
  10. Rajasthan Police starts ‘Positive Behaviour in Policing’ training to change how stations treat people10Rajasthan Police starts ‘Positive Behaviour in Policing’ training to change how stations treat peopleOct 16, 2026
  11. Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha gets Rs 1.06 crore under vehicle surveillance system at three gates11Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha gets Rs 1.06 crore under vehicle surveillance system at three gatesOct 16, 2026
  12. Afghanistan hunger hits record: 15.9 million face acute food insecurity, 19.2 million by winter12Afghanistan hunger hits record: 15.9 million face acute food insecurity, 19.2 million by winterOct 16, 2026 · Reading now
  13. WHO Ukraine warehouses hit four times since July, destroying .5 million of medicines13WHO Ukraine warehouses hit four times since July, destroying $1.5 million of medicinesOct 16, 2026
  14. Kenya Ebola: second case confirmed in relative of first patient, WHO says no community spread14Kenya Ebola: second case confirmed in relative of first patient, WHO says no community spreadOct 16, 2026
  15. WHO: lead poisoning causes over 3.5 million deaths a year, yet half of countries lack paint limits15WHO: lead poisoning causes over 3.5 million deaths a year, yet half of countries lack paint limitsOct 16, 2026
  16. COP17 biodiversity report: fewer than half of national nature targets on track, Guterres warns16COP17 biodiversity report: fewer than half of national nature targets on track, Guterres warnsOct 16, 2026
  17. World Social Report 2026: UN warns AI and green energy shifts could leave millions behind17World Social Report 2026: UN warns AI and green energy shifts could leave millions behindOct 16, 2026
  18. UN report on neurotechnology warns brain data from gadgets could be used against people in court18UN report on neurotechnology warns brain data from gadgets could be used against people in courtOct 16, 2026
  19. Artemis II heat shield: NASA finds just 9 char-loss spots against 103 on Artemis I19Artemis II heat shield: NASA finds just 9 char-loss spots against 103 on Artemis IOct 16, 2026
  20. El Nino 2026: NASA satellites track what may be the strongest El Nino since 195020El Nino 2026: NASA satellites track what may be the strongest El Nino since 1950Oct 16, 2026
  21. Hurricane Isaias: NASA night images show lights going out across Florida Panhandle, then returning21Hurricane Isaias: NASA night images show lights going out across Florida Panhandle, then returningOct 16, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top